His heart soared as if desperate to meet that smile. Warmth spread over him and he realized that his right hand had moved as though to touch her face. He tore his gaze away, curling his fingers into a fist.
“That will not be necessary.” He did not look back as he turned on his heel and stalked towards the castle.
CHAPTER 13
“This arrived for you, Your Grace.” Mrs. Fairfax entered Harriet’s study holding a wrapped package.
Harriet looked up from the household accounts, her brow creased. It had been several days since her argument with Theodore, several days since she had convinced him to allow Phoebe an hour to play every day, and in that time, she had scarcely seen him.
He took most of his meals in his study, which the staff assured her was his habit and dinners were often silent, uncomfortable affairs. Something inside Harriet squirmed.
If I did not know better, I would think he was avoiding me.
Her eyes drifted to the package in Mrs. Fairfax’s hands, as she tried to think what it might be. “Does it say who it is from?”
“Mr. Scrivener & Co. I believe he runs the book shop in the village?” Mrs. Fairfax peered at the label.
“Oh!” Harriet clapped her hands in delight as she took the parcel from Mrs. Fairfax. “My sketch book was nearly full and when I went into town with Lucy and Phoebe, I asked if he might make me a new one. I had no idea he would be so quick!”
Excitement flared in her as she ripped open the package and began to leaf through the thick leatherbound volume. It was exactly as she had specified, with lovely thick paper that would be perfect for sketching. There was a second book as well.
“This one is for Phoebe.” Harriet explained to Mrs. Fairfax. “I thought it would be nice for her to have one of her own.”
“I am sure Lady Phoebe will love that.” Mrs. Fairfax beamed. “Will you give it to her now?”
Harriet glanced at the clock. It was ten in the morning. Her play hour with Phoebe would not be until after lunch. She could just picture her face when she gave it to her, her eyes brimming with excitement as she shuffled between her feet. She forced herself to put Phoebe’s present down.
“No. I suspect she will be too preoccupied with wanting to draw and it will completely distract her from her lessons.”If I interrupt her lessons, there is every chance we will lose our play hour.Harriet bit her lip.
“Of course, Your Grace.” Mrs. Fairfax nodded. “Will that be all?”
“Yes, thank you.” Harriet gestured to the accounts on her desk. “I should probably get back to these. I want to make sure I have a good understanding of the household budget, expenses and all that sort of thing.”
“I can send up some tea and biscuits if it would help?” Mrs. Fairfax smiled at her.
“I would not want to risk spilling anything near them.” Harriet shook her head. “But I appreciate the offer. I will see you later this afternoon to discuss the menu for next week. Thank you again.”
“My pleasure.” Mrs. Fairfax curtseyed and left the room.
Harriet sat back down at her desk, her left foot tapping an insistent rhythm as she pulled the thick ledger book towards her. The records were meticulous, and ordinarily Harriet would appreciate how well organized and well-kept they were, but her eyes kept drifting to the sketchbooks.
Outside, the birds were singing and as the morning sunlight trickled through her window, Harriet found herself sighing. “I am not going to get anything done like this.”
She tucked a bookmark in the ledger and made several notes on a spare bit of paper reminding her of what she had read. Thenshe stood up, grabbed her new sketchbook and a pencil and walked into the garden.
The air was cool as she walked down the garden steps, breathing in the morning dew. The flowers bloomed around her, and nearby she heard the distinct buzzing of bees.
“It really is beautiful here.” Harriet sighed and moved through the garden, looking for the little spot she had found the day before.
It was a secluded area, right beneath an old oak tree. It looked out across the estate and from the first moment Harriet had seen it, she had known it would be the perfect place to come and draw.
She settled herself between thick and gnarled roots, leaning back against the bark of the tree. “Just a quick break and then I will get back to my duties.”
Harriet looked around, the odd restlessness still filling her. “I just need to think of something to draw.”
She heard several indignant chirps nearby and turned to in search of the source. She spotted movement to her left and saw a robin perched in a nearby bush. It was sitting as though it were watching her, chirping.
“Have I offended you, little robin?” she asked, amused as the bird hopped between branches, chirping. “Or do you hope I might have some food for you?”
